France Drops to 35th in Global Happiness Ranking 2024

France has dropped to 35th position in the latest World Happiness Report, falling behind countries such as Israel and Saudi Arabia. This marks a notable decline for France in the annual global ranking of well-being and contentment.

Costa Rica Surges, France Slips in World Happiness Rankings

For the ninth consecutive year, Finland has claimed the top spot in the annual World Happiness Report, released for International Day of Happiness. Despite ongoing challenges—such as a persistently high unemployment rate and tighter social benefits—the Nordic country continues to set itself apart with its remarkable collective satisfaction. This is reflected in a strong score of 7.764 out of 10.

However, this year’s edition offers notable shifts elsewhere: Latin America marks an unprecedented breakthrough as Costa Rica leaps to fourth place globally. Meanwhile, France‘s position tumbles down to 35th, placing it behind nations such as Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and even Saudi Arabia. A closer look reveals that while France performs well in health (ranking 14th), it lags significantly in individual freedom and generosity.

The Nordic Model Remains Resilient

Consistently high performers, the Nordic countries—including Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway—continue to dominate the upper echelons of the rankings alongside Finland. These results are measured against key criteria such as per capita GDP, healthy life expectancy, and perceptions of freedom. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list among 147 countries, with ongoing conflict and human rights violations following the return of Taliban rule.

Youth Well-being: The Social Media Paradox

Attention turns sharply to younger generations this year. The report highlights mounting concerns about the impact of social media. Several governments are now considering new regulations aimed at protecting youth well-being online. Strikingly, researchers observe “dramatic declines” in happiness among those under 25—especially young women—in countries like the United States and Canada.

Yet globally, this relationship is not straightforward. As noted by Oxford’s Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, heavy social media use tends to correlate with lower well-being, but avoiding it altogether may mean missing out on potential benefits. Several factors explain this complex effect:

• Demographics: Age and socio-economic status influence outcomes.
• Platform type and usage patterns:
• The manner in which individuals interact with social networks.

A Shifting Global Landscape of Happiness

In a world grappling with technological disruption and shifting values, models like those seen in Finland or Costa Rica suggest that resilience—and perhaps a bit of luck—still play a role in national happiness. Others continue searching for that elusive formula.